MAN, Others Reject Monthly Electricity Tariff Review Proposal

• MAN, Others Reject Monthly Electricity Tariff Review Proposal

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and other key consumers of electricity have rejected a proposal by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to review power charges on a monthly basis.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum organised by NERC in Abuja on Monday, the consumers insisted on the status quo, which implies possible review of the tariff on a biannual basis.

Other consumer groups that spoke at the event were the Nigerian Electricity Consumers Advocacy Network and the Hotel Owners Forum, Abuja.

In its submission, NECAN said that any increase in the tariff would adversely affect consumers. Similarly, MAN said that a more frequent review of tariff in the electricity industry would harm the manufacturing sector.

Noting that the last tariff review resulted in 95 per cent increase in charges, the NECAN Chairman, Mr. Tomi Akingbogun, urged the Federal Government to protect consumers’ interest in the electricity industry.

He also urged NERC to ensure that all electricity consumers were metered before considering any tariff review.

The President, HOFA, Mr. Eze Ude, said since hoteliers did not review their rates on a monthly basis, it was not rational to expect them to pay different electricity tariffs every month.

However, the representatives of the Eko and Ibadan electricity distribution companies backed the plan by NERC as they claimed that their invoices vary on monthly basis.

The Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors claimed that the monthly review of tariffs was a global practice. Representative of the group, Mr. Adetunji Adeyeye, urged NERC to devise a means of implementing either a monthly or annual review.

The Executive Secretary, Association of Power Generating Companies, Dr. Joy Ogaji, urged NERC to factor in about 2,000 megawatts of electricity, which she claimed was stranded within the Gencos and paid for by the firms.